Beginning with Louis Armstrong, through Harry James and Bobby Hackett of the Jackie Gleason Orchestra, the trumpet was once a king in pop music. This was true even in '60s-era easy listening, as demonstrated by the success of Al Hirt, Herb Alpert, and the ultra-shrewd German musician Bert Kaempfert, who probably was as responsible as anyone else in rehabilitating Germany's post-war world image. The Taragon label is re-releasing all of Kaempfert's many albums in an ambitious reissue project. This excellent compilation is the one to have however.

As well as being a successful composer ("Strangers in the Night," "Spanish Eyes," "Danke Schon," "L.O.V.E" are all his compositions), Kaempfert was an even better producer, superior even to Herb Alpert in that he didn't rely as much on a formula sound as did the Tijuana Brass. His studio work is ultra-clean and efficient, and very pop-modern in the use of a prominently recorded low-strung electric guitar on all tracks. What lingers on are his memorable melodies however, sunnily displayed and all danceable in the old-fashioned European style.

Music Lovers' Ratings & Reviews:

The Very Best of Bert Kaempfert
Music Lover: Harry Artinian from
Connecticut, USA -- September, 2, 2007

This is a superb collection of Bert Kaempfert's output as both a composer and producer of great melodies. The quality of the recordings is outstanding and every track is better than the last. Excellent!!!